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Dutch agent says Celtic and Rangers were close to Scottish football exit

Dutch agent Rob Jansen has claimed that Celtic and Rangers were preparing to join a 'Euroleague' back in 1999.

Celtic and Rangers fans

The discussion of whether or not Celtic and Rangers should leave Scottish football in order to pursue something more challenging has been going on for years now. Both sets of fans and many members of the media have opposed the idea, while others welcome it. There have even been rumours recently that have linked them with an Atlantic League, and as reported by the Daily Record, Dutch agent Rob Jansen has claimed the Old Firm were close to leaving Scottish football more than 17 years ago.

Jansen, who formerly represented legendary striker Henrik Larsson, has spoken about just how close Celtic and Rangers came to joining a 'Euroleague' that was planned in order to rival the UEFA Champions League.

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He said to Daily Record: “I read about the plans last week, but they won’t work. They have embarked on a hopeless mission and the public won’t want it.

Celtic's Scott Sinclair with Rangers' Joey Barton after the game

“In 1999, I worked with Celtic to prepare a plan that was so revolutionary, everything would have changed in football.

Whether or not these revelations are true is irrelevant as it obviously never came to fruition. It does however once again beg the question of what would happen if the Glasgow neighbours were to test themselves outside of the comforts of the Scottish Premier League.